A127 could get £44m revamp

MAJOR investment could be coming to major junctions on the A127 as part of a £44.24million revamp.

Essex County Council and Southend Council have submitted a joint bid for Government cash to build a new sliproad connecting the A127 to the A130 at the Fairglen Interchange, between Rayleigh and Basildon, add extra lanes at the Kent Elms and Bell junctions in Southend and add an extra lane to the Nevendon Interchange roundabout, to Wickford.

Business leaders say the investment is much needed because the 90-year-old dual carriageway is “creaking” under the strain of more and more vehicles using the route everday.

Experts estimate a total of £76million of work is needed to help south Essex generate an extra £2.4billion for the economy.

David Burch, from the Essex Chambers of Commerce, said: “It’s an old and creaking road. We have been advocating very strongly for it to be upgraded to bring further economic benefits to Southend and south Essex.

“We fully support proposals by Essex and Southend councils to apply for funding and we have much hope they will be successful.”

The tricky revamp of the Fairglen Interchange, which is used by more than 70,000 vehicles a day, could cost up to £15million alone and may need the purchase of Morbec Farm, estimated at more than £1million.

The new slip road would cut across the farmland north of A127, connecting its eastbound carriagewaywith the A130 and on to Chelmsford and north Essex.

Drivers currently have to leave the A127, join the A1245 and A130, including traversing two roundabouts, passing two sets of signals, and travelling 1.5miles, equivalent to 3 minutes journey time – not including any time spent stationary at signals.

Fourth lanes could be added to the approaches in £5million overhauls of the Kent Elms and Bell junctions and the dedicated right turn feeder lanes extended to prevent waiting vehicles from blocking through traffic.

Footbridges at both junctions would be lost to carriageway widening and replaced by “toucan” crossings, which are for pedestrians and cyclists.

A third lane could be added to the roundabout at Nevendon, stopping traffic heading to Wickford backing up on to the A127, at a cost of £893,000.

Southend Council has agreed for the work to be included in the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s bid for Government cash at the end of this month.

The county council is expected to agree the application next Tuesday.

The Government will decide allocations in July and work could be factored into the authorities’ budgets from next year.

Picture caption states: "Traffic heading for the Fairglen Interchange, used by 70,000 drivers a day". On the basis of an average of 2 cars per household, this will soon be 73,000 drivers a day, if the 1500 new houses are built behind the Blinking Owl Cafe, as is being proposed.

Picture caption states: "Traffic heading for the Fairglen Interchange, used by 70,000 drivers a day". On the basis of an average of 2 cars per household, this will soon be 73,000 drivers a day, if the 1500 new houses are built behind the Blinking Owl Cafe, as is being proposed.Ian P

When this happens let us hope that someone other than the contractors who did the Sadlers Farm Fiasco gets the contract, otherwise there will be roadworks stretching into Southend for years to come.

When this happens let us hope that someone other than the contractors who did the Sadlers Farm Fiasco gets the contract, otherwise there will be roadworks stretching into Southend for years to come.Ian P

The Bell junction is much easier and cheaper to solve. Stop all right turns from all roads at this junction.
It could be paid for by putting a yellow box in Hobleythick lane, adjacent to the exit from the petrol station and bell tyres, with a camera to fine people who stop in the box.

The Bell junction is much easier and cheaper to solve. Stop all right turns from all roads at this junction.
It could be paid for by putting a yellow box in Hobleythick lane, adjacent to the exit from the petrol station and bell tyres, with a camera to fine people who stop in the box.Nebs

Long overdue for a revamp, the A127 was built in 1926, and has only had snippets of it improved, there will of course be delays, as the work progresses, slowing the traffic, to a snails pace, which will give the Polish flower sellers, a little more income..

Long overdue for a revamp, the A127 was built in 1926, and has only had snippets of it improved, there will of course be delays, as the work progresses, slowing the traffic, to a snails pace, which will give the Polish flower sellers, a little more income..carnmountyouknowitmakessense

If business leaders have only just noticed the A127 is ''creaking under the strain''..........i have been aware of it for at least 20 years!!!!!!! Shame on Essex county council for lack of investment in roads, specially if the madness of building more houses in the south of Essex goes ahead!!!..........wh
y not build a ''Poundbury'' near A120/Stansted?......
......But please get the A127 improvements started NOW!!!!!!!

If business leaders have only just noticed the A127 is ''creaking under the strain''..........i have been aware of it for at least 20 years!!!!!!! Shame on Essex county council for lack of investment in roads, specially if the madness of building more houses in the south of Essex goes ahead!!!..........wh
y not build a ''Poundbury'' near A120/Stansted?......
......But please get the A127 improvements started NOW!!!!!!!johanuk

Don't need increased capacity on the slip road from A127 to Wickford. Need to either sort the traffic lights (remove them?) at the roundabout at the bottom or dual the whole length of the A132 towards Wickford.

Don't need increased capacity on the slip road from A127 to Wickford. Need to either sort the traffic lights (remove them?) at the roundabout at the bottom or dual the whole length of the A132 towards Wickford.shrimpe

Ian P wrote:
Picture caption states: &quot;Traffic heading for the Fairglen Interchange, used by 70,000 drivers a day". On the basis of an average of 2 cars per household, this will soon be 73,000 drivers a day, if the 1500 new houses are built behind the Blinking Owl Cafe, as is being proposed.

I think you will find, behind all the bull and hype of "generating extra income for the local economy" the real reasons for the improvements are exactly for the reasons you mention..... not to mention the impact of another 4000+ going in throughout the borough which ultimately will be using the 127...... the concept and very real prospect of 'gridlock' will not have been lost on the planners, when considering the chaos that's coming our way....

[quote][p][bold]Ian P[/bold] wrote:
Picture caption states: "Traffic heading for the Fairglen Interchange, used by 70,000 drivers a day". On the basis of an average of 2 cars per household, this will soon be 73,000 drivers a day, if the 1500 new houses are built behind the Blinking Owl Cafe, as is being proposed.[/p][/quote]I think you will find, behind all the bull and hype of "generating extra income for the local economy" the real reasons for the improvements are exactly for the reasons you mention..... not to mention the impact of another 4000+ going in throughout the borough which ultimately will be using the 127...... the concept and very real prospect of 'gridlock' will not have been lost on the planners, when considering the chaos that's coming our way....pembury53

Might get.
No good if you turn two lanes into narrower three lanes because the motor bikes wear glasses which make the road look like it already has a third lane in the middle ! and more will be killed trying it. Wider roads need an underpass for pedestrians.

Might get.
No good if you turn two lanes into narrower three lanes because the motor bikes wear glasses which make the road look like it already has a third lane in the middle ! and more will be killed trying it. Wider roads need an underpass for pedestrians.jolllyboy

Letmetryagain wrote:
The A127 will get even busier when all of the extra houses get built.
In Castle Point and Rochford.

...and Basildon, and Southend, and Shoebury............
.........

[quote][p][bold]Letmetryagain[/bold] wrote:
The A127 will get even busier when all of the extra houses get built.
In Castle Point and Rochford.[/p][/quote]...and Basildon, and Southend, and Shoebury............
.........Eric the Red